climate – The National Wildlife Federation Bloghttp://blog.nwf.org
The National Wildlife Federation's blogSat, 17 Mar 2018 14:10:57 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4139259312A Sneak Preview of 2018 Conservationhttp://blog.nwf.org/2018/01/a-sneak-preview-of-2018-conservation/
http://blog.nwf.org/2018/01/a-sneak-preview-of-2018-conservation/#respondMon, 22 Jan 2018 20:06:37 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=132775The past year left many people wondering about the future for wildlife in America. We saw the Trump Administration wreak havoc on our land, water, and air, rolling back regulations that were meant to keep both humans and wildlife safe and healthy. Fortunately, Americans have shown time and time again that they care about wildlife and our nation’s conservation legacy. This year, the National Wildlife Federation is gearing up for a big year. We’ve asked our staff around the country what their top priority is for conservation in 2018. Let’s take a look at the year ahead.

Climate and Energy

Not surprisingly, when we asked the Climate and Energy team what their biggest priority for the year ahead was, they gave us four. Shannon Heyck-Williams, Senior Manager, climate and energy said, “NWF’s Climate & Energy team will pursue four central priorities in 2018:

Build bipartisan support in Congress and in key states for addressing climate change through a price on carbon

Increase the number of congressional Republicans sponsoring and supporting natural resource-based climate solutions

Facilitate wildlife-friendly wind power on and off-shore in the United States.”

Sportsmen’s Issues

“We would like to help states fight Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) with a national bill funding state CWD management and research,” explains Mike Leahy, Senior Manager, public land conservation. “CWD is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose and is always fatal. Having stable prey populations is crucial to maintaining healthy predator populations, like wolves and mountain lions. Being able to ensure healthy individuals and herds of these iconic American mammals is also vital to the livelihood of American sportsmen and our outdoor economy, as a whole.”

Public Lands

“The public lands team is going to continue to defend against the relentless attacks from the administration and Congress on one of our nation’s best ideas: public lands, which are owned by all Americans, for all Americans to enjoy,” says Tracy Stone-Manning, Associate Vice President for public lands. “And sometimes, the best defense is a good offense, so we’ll also work to ensure that Congress fixes the Forest Service’s budget and gives the agency the tools it needs to restore watersheds for fish and wildlife.”

Habitat Connectivity

“What I love about my work with the National Wildlife Federation and our partners is how it transforms people, myself included,” remarks Beth Pratt, Regional Executive Director. “As someone who spent most of my career working in remote national parks, like Yosemite and Yellowstone, my main conservation priority with the Federation is now focused on urban wildlife conservation and creating co-existence strategies in our human spaces. The future of conservation is about the integral link between wildlife and people – and cities are vital to forging those links. My biggest goal in this work for 2018 is to fund the “blueprints” for the wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway outside of Los Angeles through our #SaveLACougars campaign, and stay on track for the crossing to be completed by 2022. This crossing, once built, will likely be the largest in the world, and not only will it save a local population of mountain lions from extinction, but will also serve as a global model for how wildlife and people can coexist sustainably.”

International Conservation

“International corporate advocacy made a big leap in 2017,” explains Barbara Bramble, Vice President, International Wildlife Conservation and Corporate Strategies. “Two dozen international food companies made a commitment to help protect one of the most biodiverse wooded savannahs on the planet – the Brazilian Cerrado (twice the size of Texas). In 2018, we will build on this momentum to help secure commitments from additional companies, and will be working with industry to develop tools for verification and on-the-ground implementation, to safeguard wildlife from the unsustainable expansion of cattle and soy.”

Wildlife Funding

“We believe the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will gain momentum this year,” explains Naomi Edelson, Senior Director, Wildlife Partnerships. “The Act would redirect $1.3 billion of existing revenue annually to state-led wildlife conservation efforts. Securing this funding is vital for the future of wildlife in America. The number of species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act has increased by 1,000 percent in less than a decade. If we are able to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act we will make huge progress towards protecting our nation’s unique and cherished wildlife for future generations to enjoy.”

Wildlife-Friendly Cities

“In 2018, I’m hopeful that we will surpass 200 cities and communities participating in our Community Wildlife Habitat program,” explains Patrick Fitzgerald, Senior Director, education management. “NWF created the Community Wildlife Habitat program in 1997, and in recent years it’s gained a lot of momentum. The program empowers municipal and citizen leaders to restore wildlife habitat and engage community members to ensure wildlife are able to thrive, even in urban environments.”

Gulf Restoration and Disaster Preparedness

“In the wake of last year’s devastating hurricanes, it is more important than ever that we harness the power of our natural defenses – like healthy wetlands – to protect communities,” remarks Jessie Ritter, Senior Policy Specialist, Gulf restoration. “In 2018, we will be engaged at the federal and state policy levels to promote the use of natural infrastructure approaches, including living shorelines, as our nation tries to rebuild better and prepare for the next storm. We will also work to advance large-scale ecosystem restoration projects in estuaries around the Gulf Coast region, to safeguard habitats for wildlife still recovering from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”

Regional Watershed Restoration

Last year, Congress passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act, which was a huge win for wildlife. The federation is hopeful this will increase momentum for protections for other vital watersheds. “The Delaware River and its waterways provide drinking water for more than 15 million people and food, cover, and water for countless fish and wildlife. We believe there’s a unique and timely opportunity for the Governors of the four states that make up the watershed to lead the conservation of forested headwaters, ensure our local economies, work with homeowners and farmers to clean up streams, and bring back native plants and wildlife,” explains Grant LaRouche, Director, conservation partnerships, Mid-Atlantic region. “That’s why we’re running a campaign to help encourage those governors to come together around a new vision for the Delaware. Together we can take great strides in the next year to ensure a fishable, swimmable, drinkable Delaware River that creates local jobs for our communities.”

It’s clear to see we have a busy year ahead, but National Wildlife Federation staff are energized and confident that this year will bring many wins for wildlife. Together, with staff in offices all over the country and affiliates in 51 states and territories, along with support from members and concerned citizens, we form a powerful force behind wildlife conservation in America. With these priorities in mind, we will spend this year working together to create a future where our wild landscapes are protected and our wildlife can thrive.

After getting trained as Climate Reality Project leaders as part of Al Gore’s Climate Change movement, two National Wildlife Federation staff members in Seattle wanted to do more than just share Gore’s PowerPoint presentation. They also wanted to highlight that that the National Wildlife Federation is the education partner for both of Gore’s movies, “In Inconvenient Sequel” and “An Inconvenient Truth,” that there are many ways to address climate change, and that women play a critical role in this work.

Sharon London and Patty Glick. Photo Credit: Staff.

Building on National Wildlife Federation’s skill as a convener, and the fact that women are more likely to believe climate change in real, we partnered with Washington Women Climate Action Now, and the Riveter, a co-working space for women in Seattle, to bring together a panel of five female experts on Climate and Gender Equity. On Oct. 12, over 120 people came to hear their words of advice, and take action.

Facilitated by Climate Solutions, Kimberly Larson, our five panelists included the following:

Barbara Clabots, an interdisciplinary analyst in gender and the environment,

Belinda Chin, Program Coordinator for Sustainable Operations, City of Seattle, and the founder of the Environmental Professionals of Color, a climate reality project leader,

Patty Glick, National Wildlife Federation’s expert on climate change adaptation who’s worked on the issue of climate change for more than 25 years and a climate reality project leader,

Amelia Marchand, a Water Regulatory Specialist for the Colville Confederated Tribes, a recent board member with NWF’s Washington State affiliate Conservation Northwest, and a climate reality project leader,

Beth Doglio, Washington State Representative to the 22nd legislative district and campaign director for Climate Solutions new 100% Clean campaign.

Panel. Photo Credit: Elaine Chuang

The conversation was meaningful with panelists sharing ideas of how to make change (“run for office” said Beth Doglio), to how we can support each other as allies in this work. We learned that people are less likely to take tropical storms with female names seriously (Irma certainly proved them wrong!), and that women are more likely to believe climate change is real. All agreed on the need to make the world a better place for future generations.

Event attendees even created climate change Haikus, including this inspirational poem from participant Mariska Kecskes:

Rising tides, Storms, Fires

But we too, can rise, squall, and

Ignite Resistance

We know there’s interest across the nation to hold similar events. If you’d like more information or want to host a Climate Panel, NWF staff member Sharon London would be glad to talk with you and share the successes from Seattle.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/10/whos-afraid-of-climate-equity-and-women/feed/2131341Climate Change: Hurting Wildlife in Our Own Backyardshttp://blog.nwf.org/2017/09/climate-change-hurting-wildlife-in-our-own-backyards/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/09/climate-change-hurting-wildlife-in-our-own-backyards/#respondFri, 22 Sep 2017 17:55:49 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=130798For far too long, climate change seemed like a distant, impersonal problem. But the unfortunate reality is that many wildlife populations are feeling the effects of climate change now, and right in our own backyards.

Meet Stephanie, Paul and Jack: three people who love the wildlife in their area and are actively lobbying Congress to protect it.

Missing frogs

Stephanie Sides’ home in Encinitas, Calif. used to be a hot spot for the local bullfrogs to hang out. “I used to have an entire symphony of voices, all distinctive with different pitches. Even though I used to have to wear earplugs to get to sleep at night, I loved those frogs and their music.” She even hosted a “bullfrog party” several summers in a row.

But now, she says, “The bullfrogs have largely disappeared in the last several years, presumably due to drought.” California experienced drought conditions from 2011 until just this year, and frogs and toads need water to mate and lay their eggs. “I hear one lone frog voice this summer,” she says. The days of her bullfrog parties, of connecting with each other over the joys and intrigue of nature, are “now mostly lost and sorely missed,” she says.

Struggling trout

Paul Hancock has lived in—and loved—the mountain states for decades. He took up skiing in 1969 and fly fishing in 1973. As a retired resident of Pocatello, Idaho, he gets to fish or ski at least three days a week, depending on the season. “I enjoy the lack of crowds, the clean air, and the challenge of being able to navigate the outdoor world,” Paul says. “I like observing animals in their normal activities, especially the big birds when I am fishing.”

And of course, as a skier, he loves the snow. “We used to have a lot more snow at our local mountain, and our season was a month longer,” he remembers. “It is very discouraging to have moved to the area because of the cost, quality and proximity of a ski area and have it deteriorate.”

While the lack of snow is disappointing for him, it’s life-threatening to the area’s fish. “The lack of water has impacted the fishery,” Paul explains. “Trout need clean and cold water,” but the reduced snowmelt is making the trout’s habitat less and less viable. And those birds Paul enjoyed watching while he fished? He might not see them in his area for much longer. According to a report from the Audubon Society, 314 bird species will see their ranges shift and shrink over the next decades.

Disappearing pikas

American pika. Photo by NPS.

As a kid, Jack Greene used to go on nature walks and play in the woods with his mother and sister. As he got older, he started hunting and fishing with his father and uncles. “In my late 20s I was introduced to nature study and nature centers, which transformed me into a student of the marvels of nature,” Jack says.

Today, the student has become the teacher. Jack leads field trips in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest for students of all ages, and he trains environmental science teachers across the country. He also helps collect lots of “citizen science” data on the wildlife he sees.

“I am presently involved in documenting the changes in pika populations in northern Yellowstone,” Jack says, which he does through a Colorado State University Program called the Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network. The pika, a tiny mammalian cousin of the rabbit, has already disappeared from over one-third of its previously known habitat. Why? They aren’t adapted to heat above 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and as global temperatures rise, their only option is to move to higher elevations. If there are no higher elevations around and temperatures are still too high, they can’t survive.

Asking Congress to Act

Stephanie, Paul and Jack all know that the biggest threat to these species is unmitigated climate change. Higher temperatures and less predictable precipitation puts stress on many different wildlife populations, so the best chance of protecting them all is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize our climate.

Members of the Citizens Climate Lobby on the Capital steps. Photo CCL.

To that end, Stephanie, Paul, and Jack are all members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). CCL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group where thousands of volunteers lobby Congress for climate legislation. Specifically, CCL volunteers advocate for a carbon fee and dividend, which would put a price on climate-changing carbon emissions and return that revenue to American households. By making it more expensive for fossil fuel companies and others to dump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, they—and our whole economy—will quickly shift toward cheaper low- or no-carbon energy options. That, in turn, will help stabilize our climate.

Whether they’re a Republican or a Democrat, you can almost always find common ground and mutual love of some element of the outdoors. And when your representative hears how climate change is hurting wildlife in your district, in your town, or right in your backyard, it can move them to act.

Flannery Winchester is deputy communications director for the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) and comes from a long line of farmers and others who care for the land. CCL is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/09/climate-change-hurting-wildlife-in-our-own-backyards/feed/01307984 Ways Higher Education Can Lead for Climate Action in 2017http://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/higher-education-can-prepare-climate-workforce/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/higher-education-can-prepare-climate-workforce/#commentsWed, 07 Jun 2017 13:21:12 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=128481Amidst disinformation campaigns aimed at teachers[i] and a federal retreat from domestic and international climate solutions, U.S. colleges and universities play an even more important role than ever in upholding science-based education and preparing the future workforce.

When the consensus among scientists is higher than 99 percent that humans are altering the Earth’s climate, students at every level have a right to learn about the causes, effects and solutions and educators have an obligation to teach them.[ii] Despite the pressure for near-term profits, even corporate leaders appreciate the benefits of climate leadership. This week, over 1,200 U.S. businesses, investors, governors, mayors, and colleges and universities from across the U.S., representing the broadest cross section of the American economy yet assembled in pursuit of climate action, declared their intent to continue to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing carbon emissions.

At National Wildlife Federation, we work towards the simple but powerful goal of increasing wildlife populations across the U.S. Climate change is one of the biggest obstacles, necessitating landscape-scale restoration of soil and habitat, a wholesale shift towards clean energy, and smart policies at every level to drive innovation and create good jobs.

Since the stakes are so high for future generations, human and wildlife, we would like to suggest four actions that would be valuable at this time for higher education leaders to take and to bring attention to resources created to assist by NWF and our partners:

Support K-12 Teachers in Our Communities

A recent survey of middle and high school teachers across the U.S. published in Science, reveals the majority are getting climate science wrong.[iii] College and university leaders can help address the knowledge gap by hosting seminars on campus for elementary and high school teachers that explore pedagogical approaches to topics that will shape their students’ lives and careers, such as the role of the Earth’s biodiversity in providing ecosystem services, impacts and causes of climate change, and new career pathways for solutions. NWF offers a variety of resources to help through our EcoSchools USA program, and its college counterpart, NWF’s EcoLeaders Program. Materials include essential principles for teaching climate and energy topics across age levels, curricula with sample lesson plans, and project-based learning resources.

Second Nature, an NWF partner, hosts the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitments. The commitments, covering climate, carbon neutrality, and resilience and enjoying nearly 800 college and university signatories, provide support for the executive policies and leadership initiatives that create high performing colleges and universities that save money, curb waste and produce a higher educational return on investment. The NWF Campus Ecology Resource Center has an array of resources to help students and campus leadership achieve the aims of the commitments.

In every age, there is resistance to shifts in technology and practice that can improve society, and this age is no different. Higher education is an important bulwark for science-based solutions, critical thinking, and the greater societal good. As advocates for wildlife, we greatly respect the higher education leaders across the U.S. and world who have the courage and wisdom to step up for science-based education and policies.

Together, we can ensure that the best family-supporting jobs on the horizon will be for a workforce equipped with sustainability knowledge and skills, whether those jobs involve designing smart energy storage and distribution systems, financing solar cities, or protecting breeding grounds for ducks in the American heartland.

Please contact the NWF EcoLeaders team at (800) 822-9919 or EcoLeaders@NWF.org if you would like to discuss any of the above programs. We welcome your ideas and help. Please ask for any of the following team members: Julian Keniry, Courtney Cochran, David Corsar, Kristy Jones, or Eriqah Vincent.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/06/higher-education-can-prepare-climate-workforce/feed/1128481Maryland Approves Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Developmenthttp://blog.nwf.org/2017/05/maryland-approves-nations-largest-offshore-wind-development/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/05/maryland-approves-nations-largest-offshore-wind-development/#respondMon, 15 May 2017 16:56:54 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=127930Last week, the Free State took a huge step forward in transitioning to clean, renewable sources of energy. The Maryland Public Service Commission awarded offshore wind renewable energy credits (ORECs) to U.S. Wind, Inc. and Skipjack Offshore Energy, LLC to construct 368 megawatts of offshore wind capacity creating the opportunity for the nation’s largest offshore wind development to date.

This exciting announcement follows nearly seven years of sustained effort by the National Wildlife Federation and partners like the Maryland Climate Coalition. Working with a broad coalition of partners including local environmental, health, labor, business, faith, and student groups, the National Wildlife Federation championed the adoption of the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 and has been working toward its implementation ever since. The OREC order issued by the Maryland Public Service Commission was a pivotal step in making offshore wind a reality. We join our Maryland partners – and offshore wind advocates along the coast – in celebrating this win for offshore wind.

Transitioning to responsible offshore wind is essential to reducing the greenhouse gas pollution fueling climate change, while maximizing the economic benefits from clean energy. The offshore wind proposals approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission are expected to result in the creation of almost 9,700 new direct and indirect jobs and contribute $74 million in state tax revenues over 20 years.

These offshore wind projects will also help to ensure that Maryland reaches its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030. Climate change represents the most significant long-term threat to the survival of America’s wildlife and will require aggressive action both on reducing greenhouse gas pollution and adapting to and coping with the impacts already underway.

“By harnessing the power of the wind blowing off our coast, Maryland is creating a clean energy future that protects wildlife and their habitats and our communities. Guided by strong conservation principles, offshore wind can be sited, constructed, and operated in a manner that is protective of our coastal and marine wildlife.”

The National Wildlife Federation and our partners look forward to continuing to work with offshore wind developers to ensure their projects protect wildlife and our treasured Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. If you are interested in receiving offshore wind updates please visit the Maryland Climate Coalition.

Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s Offshore Wind program.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/05/maryland-approves-nations-largest-offshore-wind-development/feed/0127930EPA: Hear Our Voices, Protect Our Environmental Safeguardshttp://blog.nwf.org/2017/05/epa-hear-our-voices-protect-our-environmental-safeguards/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/05/epa-hear-our-voices-protect-our-environmental-safeguards/#respondThu, 11 May 2017 16:39:12 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=127879Although you may not think about this every day, federal protections are what keep us safe. Environmental and public health safeguards prevent rivers like the Cuyahoga from catching on fire, like it did before comprehensive federal laws were passed to protect natural resources. They allow you to breathe clean air, keep our skies free of smog, and maintain a safe climate. And we can all fish, hunt, swim, and enjoy our nation’s outdoor resources.

These vital protections have been backed by solid science and enjoyed bi-partisan support for almost half-a-century – from Republican and Democratic administrations alike. Now, these protections are under siege as the Administration is seeking a wholesale rollback of the safeguards that keep our waters clean and our air clear.

The pika has already disappeared from over one-third of their previously known habitat due to changing climate. Pikas are among the few mammals able to live in the cold above the tree line on high-elevation mountains, but are suffering as warmer temperatures. reduce the amount of snow available to provide them with insulation from the cold and later springs don’t give them enough time to store food for the winter. NPS photo.

Over the past few years we’ve seen toxic algal outbreaks in Lake Erie, which poisoned the drinking water for more than 400,000 people in Toledo. We have experienced increasingly intense and damaging storms like Hurricane Sandy, ravaging forest fires, paralyzing droughts, decreasing snow packs, and wildlife like trout disappearing as streams warm. In cities like Flint, we’ve seen tens of thousands of children exposed to lead in their drinking water. As these crises come to light, we’re reminded of just how important these bedrock safeguards are for our wildlife, natural resources, and our way of life.

So now, more than ever, we need the EPA to stand up for people and the environment – to make sure national safeguards remain in place so that all Americans have access to drinkable, “crystal clear” water and breathable air. Now is the time to be strengthening, not weakening, these critical tools that protect our drinking water, air, public health, and economy.

Earlier this year, President Trump issued an Executive Order to eliminate “unnecessary regulatory burdens,” by requiring the government to get rid of two existing regulations, for every new one. As part of this, the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public input on what key protections for wildlife and natural resources to target for repeal, with a series of public hearings and are accepting written comments through May 15. This process falls far short of the necessary public input required to make critical decisions of this scale that could result in real danger to the health of our communities and environment.

Fortunately, people know that without strong federal protections for clean air and clean water, our rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, mountains, coasts, plains, and climate will suffer. Ever since President Richard Nixon founded the EPA in 1970, the agency has used sound science, transparent processes with robust public input, and the law to guide and enforce protective rules that safeguard wildlife and natural resources.

The blue crab is iconic to Chesapeake Bay. However, the changing climate threatens our nation’s largest estuary, threatening recreational and commercial fishing including crabbing in Virginia. Photo by Jason Williams.

We’ve already seen what happens when states are in charge of protecting our natural resources and the environment and (spoiler alert) it failed. Without uniform, science-based standards and implementation resources from the federal government, cities were choked in smog, lead and other toxins were pervasive, and rivers were so polluted they caught fire. States don’t have the financial resources to control the pollutants that flow from other states into theirs like in Maine, the “tailpipe of the nation,” where wind carries airborne pollutants from the west across state borders, rendering Maine’s magical ponds and lakes virtually dead from acid rain.

States are unable to take cross-state approaches to protect and restore vast ecosystems like the Great Lakes or Chesapeake Bay. History has shown us that states cannot be allowed to set air and water quality standards weaker than these nationwide minimums without triggering a “race to the bottom” that degrades our air and water.

These cross-state protections not only benefit wildlife, but public health and our economy. The Clean Air Act prevents more than 160,000 premature deaths and 1.7 million asthma attacks each year. The Clean Water Rule safeguards drinking water sources for 117 million Americans that also serve as vital fish and wildlife habitat, and the Clean Water Act is estimated to provide an economic benefit of $11 billion a year. Decades have shown that economic growth is not only compatible with, but benefits from these protections. The far greater “burden” would be not to have these strong federal protections in place to keep us safe.

Otters depend on clean water in wetlands and rivers too! Some of these same waters serve as the source of our drinking water. Cleaning up pollution is much more expensive than preventing pollution in the first place. For instance, the US has an estimated water infrastructure investment deficit of more than $40 billion per year for the next 25 years. The best way to reduce this cost is by preventing additional pollution from entering our waters at the source. Photo Credit: Pixabay.

Access to clean air and clean water should not depend on where you live. We need federal safeguards like Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands, plans to reduce carbon emissions and smog, clean-up plans for watersheds like the Chesapeake Bay, and efforts to make our climate safer for people and wildlife.

Unlike Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, in the classic film, The Wizard of Oz, most people and animals affected by tornadoes don’t usually fare as well. These natural disasters can – and often do – have devastating effects.

Tornado NOAA Map

While there may not be a real “yellow brick road,” the National Wildlife Federation does have some terrific resources to share on tornadoes, and how educators and families can help young children cope with natural disasters. We first published these tips, tools, and resources in 2013, and our team has now updated and added to them.

So far in 2017, there have been more than 309 tornadoes reported in the United States; over 36 of those during the week of April 1-6 – and that’s no April Fool’s joke! In fact, in Georgia, they broke a two-day state record with 41 tornadoes. Folks there must have felt like they had been blown into another state!

Springtime warming is the time when flowers begin to bloom; unfortunately, it also spawns a lot of severe weather events such as tornadoes. To help you be prepared and help your students better understand tornadoes – check out our materials designed to help:

Sure wish I could click Dorothy’s ruby slippers three times and ensure that tornadoes and other natural disasters won’t occur, but this is real life, and these are real problems needing real, authentic, and hands-on learning to help us cope with extreme weather events.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/toto-im-afraid-were-not-in-kansas-anymore/feed/0127160Climate Policy Rollbacks Create Disasters, Not Jobshttp://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/climate-policy-rollbacks-create-disasters-not-jobs/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/climate-policy-rollbacks-create-disasters-not-jobs/#respondMon, 10 Apr 2017 12:00:05 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=127135President Trump claimed that last week’s Executive Order rolling back climate progress will create jobs for coal miners, but what it really creates is more flooding for coastal communities and river towns, more drought for farmers, forest pest infestations, and bigger wildfires out West — all of which will have dramatically rising disaster costs and wildlife impacts.

We need to give serious thought to the broader societal, environmental, and economic impacts of retreating to the dark ages of coal dependency. We can no longer afford to ignore the costs of burning coal to a broad swath of society, human health and safety, and the ecosystems we depend on. Unchecked greenhouse gas emissions are already driving us towards greater climate extremes.

We especially can’t afford to toss out important, science-based disaster prevention measures that give thoughtful consideration to the role that nature plays in protecting us and nature-based economies from the growing hazards of climate change.

The (now revoked) 2013 Executive Order “Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change” called for risk-informed decision-making and preparedness planning, and underscored the importance of making watersheds, natural resources, and the communities and economies that depend on them more resilient to a changing climate. It also recognized the important role that ecosystems play as “natural infrastructure” that meets both the goals of greater climate resilience and carbon sequestration.

Hurricane Joaquin dumped 2 feet of rain on South Carolina in 24 hours. Photo by NOAA

The (now rescinded) Climate Action Plan rightly recognized that “ecosystems are critical to our nation’s economy and the lives and health of our citizens. These natural resources can also help ameliorate the impacts of climate change, if they are properly protected.” It also sought to “improve our natural defenses against extreme weather, protect biodiversity, and conserve natural resources in the face of a changing climate, and manage our public lands and natural systems to store more carbon.” Sounds like a triple win for communities, businesses, and wildlife.

It is therefore unfathomable that our country’s new leadership would intentionally put our communities, economies, and natural resources onto a collision course with costly, even deadly, disaster.

Climate Change Threatens the Bottom Line

A report entitled Risky Business crunched the numbers around near-term consequences of climate change for our country’s bottom line over the next 15 years. Among other things, analysts found that sea level rise, combined with storm surge, is likely to increase the average annual cost of coastal storms by $2 billion to $3.5 billion, and they projected significant crop yield losses in the Midwest and Southeast for corn, wheat, soy and cotton growers, without adaptation measures.

Across the country and globally, communities are already suffering from climate change impacts, most notably precipitation extremes ranging from devastating drought to epic flooding, driven by rising global temperatures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported 15 weather and climate related disasters exceeding a billion dollars in damages in 2015 alone. This is just a sampling of what is to come this century as we continue down the disastrous path to a high emissions scenario.

Climate Risks Are Real

Over the past decade, California’s precipitation pendulum has swung from extreme drought to torrential rainfall, with flooding that recently brought Oroville Dam spillway to near failure, forcing emergency evacuation of 188,000 people. A failure of this one reservoir could be catastrophic for communities and habitats downstream and devastate the state’s water supply, forcing agriculture and southern California cities into an even deeper water crisis. Even short of complete failure, the flooding and subsequent fluctuating water levels have caused major erosion and damages for farmers and natural areas downstream from the reservoir.

In coastal New Jersey, increasingly heavy downpours combined with high tides and rising seas frequently make getting to work and school in coastal communities not only difficult, but downright hazardous. In early 2016, Winter Storm Jonas brought massive icy winter flooding to southern New Jersey, causing $3 billion in damages from a single storm.

The following summer, in June 2016, downpours devastated 1,200 West Virginia homes, costing 26 lives and washing out bridges and roads along the way. It is downright disingenuous to roll back climate progress in the name of coal mining jobs, when Appalachian communities will increasingly suffer the impacts of climate change, especially since most experts agree that due to market forces, coal mining jobs aren’t coming back in significant numbers.

In late 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused severe damages to Haiti and jeopardized coastal communities all along the Southeastern Atlantic seaboard, causing $64 million in damages to South Carolina. Matthew followed right on the heels of Hurricane Joaquin, which had dumped a historic 1,000 year deluge on South Carolina in 2015 – with over two feet of rain falling in 24 hours in some places, causing an estimated $12 billion in damages.

This has all happened since 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, which exceeded prior worst case scenarios of coastal storm damages to New York and New Jersey. In her wake, Sandy left casualties and economic damages in the hundreds of billions. Sandy also damaged sensitive coastal habitats for wildlife like the Red Knot, a shorebird that depends upon the beaches of Delaware Bay to fuel up along its astonishing long distance migration.

Gambling Away the Future of Coastal Economies

Beyond flooding and torrential downpours, climate change threatens the world’s coral reefs and fisheries, due to rising ocean temperatures and other climate-related dynamics. Coral reefs protect shorelines from storm damages and support an estimated 4,000 species of fish. Globally, they have been estimated to provide $375 billion in goods and services per year. The value of coral reefs to commercial fisheries in the U.S. alone is over $100 million.

This Executive Order points us squarely back onto the path of a high carbon emissions scenario, which means we’re looking at up to 4.5 feet of sea level rise in places like Atlantic City, New Jersey by the end of the century. Sea level rise of that magnitude would drown many of America’s favorite seaside destinations and coastal habitats, seriously impairing robust coastal tourism economies and wildlife habitats.

By setting back greenhouse gas reductions and revoking proactive disaster prevention and climate resilience measures, this order gambles away the future of coastal economies and many other sectors across the continent that depend upon thriving ecosystems — from fisheries to farming to forestry — while putting wildlife habitat and human lives at risk.

In addition to setting back progress on carbon pollution reductions, the order makes sweeping rollbacks to science-based policies advancing climate resilience and preparedness. These were important, guiding documents that acknowledged the role natural systems play in ameliorating climate change impacts, in ways that sustain human and wildlife communities.

By rescinding the President’s Climate Action Plan of 2013 and revoking the 2013 Executive Order Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change, this executive order recklessly jeopardizes crucial science-based priorities, including the US Global Change Research Program and the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Obstructing science and revoking climate adaptation and resilience measures intended to protect vulnerable communities from mounting disaster risks jeopardizes fisheries and endangered species, eco-tourism and the outdoor economy, and the very health, safety, and economic security of communities across the country, in red and blue states alike.

Dr. Stacy Small-Lorenz is a Senior Wildlife Ecologist of Appalachian origin in our National Advocacy Center, Washington, DC and lead author of the NWF report Natural Defenses In Action.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/climate-policy-rollbacks-create-disasters-not-jobs/feed/0127135Climate Curious Crowd Descends Upon Denverhttp://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/climate-curious-crowd-descends-upon-denver/
http://blog.nwf.org/2017/04/climate-curious-crowd-descends-upon-denver/#respondFri, 07 Apr 2017 23:22:19 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=127080New community leaders emerged when Vice President Al Gore and the Climate Reality Project held their largest training yet, thanks to a new sense of urgency

Photo by Olena Alec, courtesy of the Climate Reality Project

Denver, CO – As a regional outreach campaign manager with the National Wildlife Federation, I’ve worked since 2011 to engage volunteers and activists from the Rockies around solutions to the climate crisis. But my journey really took off in August, 2013 when I was fortunate enough to be trained as a Climate Reality Leader in Chicago. Starting in 2006, after the success of his award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, former Vice President Al Gore began training volunteers on how to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis to people everywhere. Since leading his first training of just people 50 in his Nashville barn, Gore and his Climate Reality Project (CRP) have grown exponentially, and have now trained more than 11,000 leaders around the world in just a decade.

My training gave me access to a network of other leaders all over the country, who were committed to organizing acts of leadership in their communities, such as giving educational presentations, lobbying elected officials, mobilizing around EPA hearings, and many other forms of activism. I’ve continued to stay involved with Climate Reality and have subsequently been honored to mentor new trainees at 3-day training sessions in Des Moines, IA (2015), Miami, FL (2015), and Houston, TX (2016). I also had the great fortune to volunteer for CRP during the UN Climate talks in Paris, 2015.

Photo courtesy of the Climate Reality Project

For me, the Denver Training (March 2-4) couldn’t have come at a better time. 2016 was the hottest year ever recorded, succeeding both 2015 and 2014 for that dubious honor. This unprecedented warming coincided with a new Administration and leadership in Congress that continues to ignore warnings from the scientific community and aggressively roll back common-sense, popular solutions like the Clean Power Plan, while attacking the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget and initiatives.

Apparently, citizens from across the US and the world have been newly energized around pushing solutions to the climate crisis, as 970 new trainees descended upon the Colorado Convention Center in March – making it the Climate Reality Project’s largest training to date.

While making his presentation, tailored to the Rocky Mountain states, Gore asked three salient questions:

1) Must we solve the climate crisis?
2) Can we solve the climate crisis?
3) Will we solve the climate crisis?

As for question number one, Gore walked us through a number of convincing slides that reveal the extent to which our warming climate is already impacting life around the world; including rising seas, extreme weather, melting ice caps, heat waves, and drought. Regarding question two, he showed us that we have all the technology we need right now to curtail carbon emissions, including electric cars and clean energy sources like solar and wind. Question three is the trickiest of all, because it requires diligent cooperation from every country in the world, to stick to their contributions to the Paris Agreement and continue to address the challenges we are faced with. However, the Denver training experience gave me enormous hope. I feel that we are building an army around the world to confront this crisis head-on. This training also afforded me one of the biggest honors of my career: when I was able to appear with Mr. Gore and three of my mentors to talk about our journey as Climate Reality Leaders.

Video of the event is available here. Next check here for some tips on becoming involved around climate activism.

Manatees, found 1.5 miles inland after Hurricane Hermine in Sept. 2016, were rescued & released by Florida Fish & Wildlife (via Flickr)

As Hurricane Matthew hits Florida, the top priority is evacuating people from the danger zones and preparing communities for the storm’s impact. We’re grateful to the public officials, first responders, forecasters, and all the other people working around the clock to keep people safe.

In addition to impacts to homes, businesses and infrastructure, the National Wildlife Federation will be monitoring some potential impacts to Florida’s wildlife and natural resources:

The storm poses a new threat to Florida’s sea turtles, all of which are threatened or endangered, after Hurricane Hermine destroyed 668 sea turtle nests last month. Sea turtles continue hatching through late October. Manatees were rescued after being stranded miles inland after Hermine. The storm could also damage coastal reef ecosystems.

Previous storms like Katrina and Sandy sent the National Flood Insurance Program into billions of dollars in debt and Matthew will be yet another stress on its budget. The National Wildlife Federation continues urging Congress to reform the NFIP, among other changes needed to deal with rising sea levels and stronger coastal storms.

The National Wildlife Federation and our state affiliate, the Florida Wildlife Federation, will continue monitoring Hurricane Matthew and its impacts on communities and wildlife. We hope everyone stays safe and heeds evacuation orders where necessary.